Broncos offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave could have gone several directions when asked about left tackle Garett Bolles.

He could have pointed out Bolles’ durability as a rookie (16-game starter), his progress this offseason (added weight and strength) or his potential (anticipated Year 1 to Year 2 growth).

Musgrave chose another route.

The real route.

“We want Garett to clean up his level of play,” Musgrave said.

And …

“(He) had a number of penalties last year that we can get corrected.”And …

“We’re looking forward to him … just being better for us overall.”

If Musgrave isn’t an everybody-should-get-a-trophy guy at the interview podium, he definitely isn’t one behind the scenes. Most players appreciate the bluntness. Point out their flaws and then help them get better. That has been the Broncos’ approach with Bolles.

And Bolles wants it that way. He embraces the critiques. He loves the grind.

“I made mistakes (last year) and I’m ready to fix those mistakes,” Bolles said. “I’m ready to show people why the Denver Broncos drafted me.”

The Broncos drafted Bolles 20th overall in 2017, the first offensive tackle selected, ahead of Ryan Ramczyk (No. 32 to New Orleans) and Cam Robinson (No. 34 to Jacksonville).

Bolles’ play was a mixed bag reflective of offensive turmoil – two coordinators, three quarterbacks and his professional inexperience. On top of it all, he only had 13 games of major college experience.

The good: Bolles’ 1,106 snaps were second among all NFL offensive tackles, behind New England’s Nate Solder (1,114), who’s now with the Giants. And he wasn’t called for an accepted holding penalty in the Broncos’ first five games.

The not good enough? Bolles was called for seven enforced holding penalties, tied for the league lead with Cleveland’s Shon Coleman, and his 12 overall penalties were third-most among offensive linemen behind Seattle’s Germain Ifedi (16) and Chicago’s Charles Leno (13). And Bolles’ 8 1/2 sacks allowed were third-most in the NFL behind Cleveland’s Spencer Drango (9 1/2) and Arizona’s Alex Boone (nine).

Part of being a rookie is merely surviving and then getting a full offseason of training and evaluation instead of preparing for the scouting combine and traveling from city to city for pre-draft meetings. What Bolles and the Broncos saw from his 2017 tape set the table for his 2018 plan.

“Just being consistent and continuing to work on my footwork and fundamentals to make sure I’m in the best position for fall camp and game time,” Bolles said of his goal during organized team activities, which wrapped up Thursday and leads into this week’s mandatory mini-camp (Tuesday-Thursday).

Bolles’ offseason work started in the weight room. Listed at 300 pounds, Bolles estimated he was at 290-295 last December. Compare that to Ramczyk (listed at 314) and Robinson (320).

“I just had to gain a bit more weight so I can anchor when I get those bull rushes,” Bolles said. “I’ll probably stay around 300-305 — that’s sort of my range. I feel more comfortable there.”

Before each organized team activity, Bolles and the other linemen work on their pass-rush sets — footwork and hand action. When the pads come on in training camp, they want to have their technique down so it can quickly mesh with the physical aspect.

“He’s definitely getting better,” left guard Max Garcia said. “His sets look good and he’s using his hands better than he was last year.”

Said Bolles: “Ninety-five percent of the game is technique. The other five percent is just being gifted.”

Reviewing the tape of Bolles’ holding penalties, a common theme developed. He was not overwhelmed athletically — a rusher did not burst around the corner untouched or run over him with straight-ahead power. The trouble was technical.

At the Chargers in Week 7, defensive end Melvin Ingram won the edge and drew a penalty when Bolles didn’t bend enough to contain him. Later in the game, defensive tackle Tenny Palepoi rushed toward Bolles, who was late to kick-step outside to get in front of defensive end Joey Bosa.

In Week 13 at Miami, defensive end Andre Branch juked inside before darting outside, catching Bolles slightly out of position and getting into his pads. And in Week 15 at Indianapolis, Jabaal Sheard used the same move as Branch to gain an advantage.

Bolles was called for two holding penalties on run plays when he initially contained his opponent but held on too long when C.J. Anderson bounced outside.

All of lessons have been applied to Bolles’ work this offseason.

After a rookie year of “rocky moments,” Bolles feels “calmer and collected,” going into Year 2. Improve and the Broncos have their blind-side pass protector and physical run-game presence locked down for the future, a player who plays like his status as a first-round pick. Stay the same, and left tackle will develop into a question mark under consideration for re-drafting.

“Guys get drafted every year and there is always that guy who comes in and wants to take your spot,” Bolles said. “You have to be prepared. The guys that play eight, 10 years are the guys who are consistent. You have to be ready for everything that comes your way.”